Jeff Scheetz has been making
a comfortable living playing guitar, a major feat for an Iowa boy, for
quite some time. He's one of the best of the best and also just a real
nice down to earth guy. I saw him at a guitar seminar at a local music
store back in the 80's and he really just enjoyed what he was doing.
Beggars, Rogues and Thieves sounds like the lost Eric Clapton album.
Jeff is a combination of Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray all
in one. The first three songs just plain rock the house. I suppose when
someone arranges the order of their CD they put what they think is their
most attention getting high velocity numbers first and if so Jeff was
successful. Even if this isn't your thing, you can't stop from tapping
your foot. These players are so good it's almost too much. It wouldn't
be good listening right after mowing your lawn. But it's really good.
Song number four lightens things up with
a tune entitled YOU CAPTIVATE ME. Pretty much your standard boy girl
ballad which is a welcome relief after those first tunes. A guy has got
to come up for air once in a while. Starting with song number five is
where I think this CD really starts to shine. It's called SITUATIONAL
COMEDY. It's got a nice swing to it and lots of space. The lyrics just
walk you through a day in the life of Jeff Scheetz's imaginary being.
Again with lead breaks from the best of the best. Song six GUILTY
changes the mood of the CD. Again this song has lots of open air with
mutating lyrics about that great love affair and some judge passing
sentence. Pretty clever and easy to digest. Song seven SUPERMAN is
easily one the favorites. It's a set your soul free and think positive
inspirational little number with a few sound samples that work
surprisingly well with a bluesy guitar. Again this CD is now starting to
build with more interesting tempo changes. And talk about tempo changes,
song number eight WORK WORK WORK WORK WORK is a snappy little ditty with
one of the most mind-warping tempo shifts ever. If you're in what should
I call it, a more relaxed state of mind, it can really throw you for a
loop. It's got that Radar Love tempo shifting into who knows what and a
few guitar licks that demand only total respect to the great master.
Almost King Crimson in reverse. Song number nine WICKED WAYS is 8th
grade slow dance music. Pretty much late night radio. Vaguely like the
Black Crows. Nice tune. Song ten BEAUTIFUL DAY sounds the most original
with a fairly normal starting funk rhythm and shifting into a really
nice drive rhythm in the Beautiful Day chorus. It also features a nice
mellow guitar sound, which is pretty soothing even when the lead almost
gives you a buzz cut. And song number 11 FREE MY SOUL is definitely the
lost Clapton number, probably the best on the CD. The last song is an
instrumental piece that is good. It lets you know it's time to turn it
off. Although this is not a major label release, it should be.
JR Hallofamer - IE magazine
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